After traveling over 1,000 nautical miles across the Gulf of Alaska, One Ocean is now just 124 nautical miles from Dutch Harbor, Unalaska. The excitement and anticipation onboard are palpable! So far, we’ve sailed 597 nm out of the 1009 nm crossing, and despite the exhaustion from long, rotating shifts, the crew remains in positive spirits.
Over the past week, we’ve faced a full spectrum of weather: from extreme wind to moderate conditions. The one constant? A chilly 44-degree temperature. Waves have remained substantial throughout the passage—up to 6–8 feet during calmer periods. During a buoy drop in what felt like mild weather, we were surprised to learn just how high the seas really were. That helped us estimate the wave heights during the gale-force storm earlier: around 15–18 feet. It was a massive storm, with days of little rest for any of us.
We’re especially grateful that Tess is still smiling after joining us in Juneau and taking on one of the longest crossings of the entire expedition. She’s been a beacon of energy, continuing to help share our mission with the world!
We’re all looking forward to walking on solid ground again. Life onboard has required astronaut-like movements, every simple task is a calculated and careful maneuver. Walking from the galley to the table (just steps apart) often means gripping handholds and bracing into the heeled side of the boat to avoid being thrown by waves.
Life at sea has its challenges. With limited internet and the risk of seasickness, screen time is tough which makes computer work and reading difficult. We try to keep spirits high with card games (when the cards aren’t flying away), shared meals, and creative games like our own version of Wordle. Dinnertime is a highlight, both as a distraction and a communal effort—though some days we rely on simple meals or leftovers when conditions get too rough for cooking.
As Mark says, “If we can conquer this crossing, we can handle any crossing ahead.” That’s reassuring, and it’s a testament to our incredibly positive, adaptable crew. We’re all making an effort to ease the daily grind and tough conditions with jokes, stories and mutual support.
We hope you were able to watch our first buoy drop live classroom, featuring special guests Jacob Davies, PhD research student at the Applied Physics Lab (APL), and Shelley Brown, Director from Sailors for the Sea Powered by Oceana, sponsors of our Buoy Drop Program. It was a blast to do and the buoy is live and can be followed again through our website under Research - microSWIFT buoy drop tracker.
As we near the end of this major crossing and after days without spotting a ship, plane, or even wildlife—just endless shades of gray—we’re now back in the shipping lanes, watching the radar closely. It’s not quite celebration time yet, but there is talk of burgers in Dutch Harbor tomorrow. Here’s hoping!
Update-we are coming into Dutch Harbor! Right on time for dinner!! WE MADE IT!!!!!!
Over and out for now - Jenn
